moment a a conversation with mitchell jackson.ell jackson battled the kind of difficult childhood that often derails young minds before they get a chance to succeed. he had his own brush with the law, spending time in prison for selling drugs, but he turned his life around, getting an mfa in creative writing from in why you -- from nyu. he has created his first novel, and everyone is talking about it. it is called "the residue years." it is getting outstanding reviews. >> thank you for having me. of your reasons for writing, and he does not get the respect he deserves, james baldwin, one of your influences. tell me how baldwin influenced your wanting to do this. >> i read "ghost on the mountain." i identified with that. way james baldwin was able to enter the interior lives of people and ask questions of how and why rather than just what. was like, i could do that. i spent a good deal of time trying to knock off james baldwin. that it seemed like he was more concerned with creating the emotional and intellectual lives of his her h